VULNERABLE shopkeepers in Huddersfield town centre can now send out an SOS call at the push of a button.

Twenty-five independent retailers in and around Byram Arcade, Station Street and Imperial Arcade have been kitted out with ‘alert boxes’ in case of emergency.

The boxes have an amber button to warn other businesses about suspected criminal activity – and a red one to call for help.

Sgt John McFadzean, who has responsibility for licensing issues in Kirklees, said: “This is particularly focused on small, independent retailers who are often working alone and can feel vulnerable or isolated.

“A lot of the retailers were getting concerned because of town centre drunks and undesirables wandering around and acting in an intimidating way.

“Because a lot of them work alone, they can’t leave their shops to ask for help, so this is a way of calling for assistance without having to do so.

“I believe this latest technology will go some way towards increasing their feeling of security.”

When a shopkeeper presses the buttons, it tells others within the scheme which shop has activated the alert along with their address and contact details.

Funding for the scheme came from the Home Office’s small retailers capital grant fund, a £5m pot of money to help fight crime.

The initiative, which costs less than a 1p per day to run, comes at a time when the safety of small retailers is under the microscope following the death of shopkeeper Gurmail Singh at Cowcliffe Convenience Stores on February 20.

And on Tuesday subpostmistress Diane Garbutt was found murdered in the living quarters of the post office she ran in North Yorkshire.

Sgt McFadzean said the alert boxes were not designed for shopkeepers working in isolated areas – but could be installed in other areas where there were clusters of shops.

“If it’s a success, there are other similar places we could look at, like Marsh and Newsome, where there are groups of shops together,” he said.

He said the boxes were not meant to replace 999 calls, but retailers should use the buttons as well as calling the police in an emergency.

The Yorkshire Independent Grocers Association, which represents small traders, welcomed the scheme.

Chairman Andrew Wilby said: “It’s a step in the right direction.

“In fairness, the authorities in Kirklees are being very positive in taking action in this area.

“We strongly believe this technology should be made available to retailers who have early starts and late night openings.”

Cathy Burger, Huddersfield town centre manager, said: “The Huddersfield Town Centre Partnership is pleased to support schemes that help make our town a safe place to work and visit.”